Castelfiorentino is an important industrial center in the Valdelsa region of the province of Florence. The town is characterized by a hill top historic center, with some more modern neighborhoods at the foot of the hill.
Castelfiorentino travel guide
Useful information
Tourist information: Via Ridolfi, 13 – Castelfiorentino. Phone: +39 0571 629049. Hours: From 09:30 till 12:30 and from 15:30 till 18:30.
Town hall: Piazza del Popolo, 1- 50051 Castelfiorentino. Phone: +39 0571 6861.
Railway station: There is a train station in Castelfiorentino. It is located in the Via Ridolfi and connects the city to Florence and Siena.
Tourist attractions
The 18th century Santa Verdiana church was built on top of an older construction.
Attached to this church is an art gallery, where 14th and 15th century paintings from Florence and from Siena are on display.
The Raccolta Comunale d’Arte (Municipal Art Collection) is another museum, which includes two fresco cycles by Benozzo Gozzoli.
The Cappella della Visitazione was constructed in the 15th century.
The 13th-century San Francesco Church and the Castello di Oliveto are also worth a visit.
A brief history of Castelfiorentino
Thanks to its strategic location, the Romans had chosen the site to build a settlement.
The Middle Ages saw incursions and plunder by mercenary bands.
The counts of Alberti were the first lords of the village and probably had a castle built.
Later, it came under the protection of Florence, which used th city as an outpost to fend off Siena.
World War II inflicted considerable damage to the city.
How to get to Castelfiorentino by car
The quickest way from Florence to Castelfiorentino by car is to follow the Strada Provinciale Volterrana and keep going straight ahead. (The road changes its name a few times along the way).